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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Oxygen regeneration of CuCl2

From: Jim <jhutch17@...>
Date: 2011-05-03

Hi Mark
My starting mixture was made with 2 parts of 3%H2O2 and 1 part of 29%
HCl. I collected the used etch in a half gallon mason jar with scrap
copper in it. When it was full and dark green and not transparent
(looked almost black), I took the undissolved copper out. When I need to
etch, I pour about 300ml of used etch and add about 7ml of 27%H2O2 and
etch at ambient temp outside with vigorous agitation and it will etch a
1.5 x 4 inch ss copper board in about 3 minutes. I use an reciprocating
saw attached to a 4 foot long 0.75 x 2 inch board with a fulcrum at the
1 foot from the opposite end of the board from the saw. The PCB with the
etch solution in a sealed (snap ware) plastic container is strapped to
the short end of the wooden board and the recip saw is turned on and the
speed is adjusted until the assembly resonates. It is WILD! The etch is
very even. The copper clears evenly and suddenly.
Jim KI6MZ

On 5/3/2011 1:04 PM, Mark Lerman wrote:
> Hi Jim,
>
> Are you using this at room temperature? Did you make your CuCl2 with
> H2O2/HCl? If so, what was your starting mixture? Thanks.
>
> Mark
>
> At 02:58 PM 5/3/2011, you wrote:
>> Hi Mark
>> I use 27% H2O2 bought at the pool supply store to rejuvenate my etch. I
>> use ~7 ml H2O2 27% per ~300 ml of CuC12.
>> I tried air bubbling and I was not satisfied. If you remember how fast
>> the original etch solution using 3% H2O2 and 30% HCl , this rejuvenated
>> solution is equally as fast.
>> I air bubbled for TWO weeks and the resulting etch was VERY SLOW
>> compared to the ~7ml of 27% H2O2 rejuvenated etch.
>> Jim KI6MZ
>>
>> On 5/3/2011 5:30 AM, Mark Lerman wrote:
>>> If I add 3% H2O2 to regenerate my etchant, I'm adding a lot of
>>> water to the mix, so I'm wondering if there's any advantage or
>>> disadvantage in bubbling oxygen rather than air through CuCl2 etching
>>> solution? Or does the air itself regenerate the solutionadequately in
>>> addition to agitating it?
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
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>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 6092 (20110503) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>
>